The Frameless Hardware Co. (FHC), a supplier and manufacturer to the glass and glazing industries, has announced that the United States Patent and Trademark Office has officially awarded U.S. Patent Number 11,299,928 to the FHC Aspire Thermally Broken Insulated Glass Entrance Door and “VDS” Vertical Door Stile Systems. Designed, engineered, and manufactured in the U.S.A. at the company’s Southern California facility, these new products bring next level industry standards to air, water infiltration management, and thermal performance meeting the nation’s ever evolving energy and building energy codes.
Designed to please architects and designers, these new energy efficient door systems look as great as they perform. Offering breakthrough thermal efficiency provided by thermally broken door rails and narrow vertical door stiles. Polyamide struts are utilized to create thermal barriers between the inside and outside aluminum extrusion members. Special designed through glass hole spacers allow for door handle hardware to connect directly to the insulated glass, producing a heavy glass door appearance.
FHC’s Aspire Door Rails and Stiles also feature their Unitizing Gasket. This U.S. Patented Gasket is a clamping force control mechanism that protects the insulating glass edge seal. U.S. Patent Number 11,187,323.
“FHC’s engineering design team saw a great opportunity in the marketplace for an improved innovative design and solution for energy code compliant applications. The result exceeded our expectations and provided a beautiful door system that has great performance ratings,” says Barry Sutherland, senior vice president of Sales at FHC.